Titans will wear decal to honor McNair

Aug. 6, 2009

The decal the Titans will wear on their helmets this season. / TENNESSEE TITANS

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THE TENNESSEAN

The Titans plan to honor late quarterback Steve McNair by wearing a No. 9 decal on the back of their helmets during the 2009 season, an NFL source said Wednesday.

The decal will be worn starting with Sunday’s preseason opener against the Bills in the Hall of Fame game in Canton, Ohio.

The Titans went through the NFL to get the decal approved. Because the Titans will wear a patch commemorating the AFL’s 50th-year celebration, another patch on the team’s uniforms wasn’t an option. Teams are allowed to wear just one patch during the season.

McNair, shot and killed July 4, wore No. 9 while playing from 1995-2005 with the organization. He threw for 27,141 yards and 156 touchdowns as a Titan and was the league’s co-MVP in 2003.

The Titans are also working on other ways to honor McNair this season. Last season he was inducted into the team’s Ring of Honor at LP Field.

Similar decals have been worn to honor other NFL players in previous seasons. A year ago, all 32 teams wore a “GU” decal honoring Gene Upshaw, the former Oakland Raider who served as the NFL Players Association’s leader. Players also wore a No. 21 sticker after the death of former Redskin Sean Taylor during the 2007 season.

The No.9 decal will be affixed to the throwback helmets of the 1960 Houston Oilers, with an oil derrick on each side, in Sunday’s nationally televised contest. The decal will also be worn on the team’s helmets featuring the Titans logo.